Football clubs targeted by HMRC for unpaid tax

HMRC tax investigators are targeting football clubs for £45m in tax they have underpaid according to UHY Hacker Young. Last year compliance investigations were opened into nine football clubs 93 players and 23 agents. Data provided by HMRC to the accountancy firm revealed that it has uncovered £5.8m in tax owed by players and £4.8m owed by agents in the last year.

The firm says HMRC is increasingly targeting agents’ fees - monies that agents are paid by the football club and player to manage a transfer – which can be millions of pounds. Agents’ fees are often split 50/50 between the club and player – although the club normally pays the player’s half. The player must pay tax on their half of the fees which is treated as a benefit in kind.

HMRC has previously expressed concerns that this split was being exploited ...